Air outlet device and method of producing same



y 18, 1944- F. HONERKAMP 2,353,826

AIR OUTLET DEVICE AND METHOD OF PRODUCING SAME 7 Filed Dec. 11, 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet l July 18, 1944. F. HONERKAMP AIR OUTLET DEVICE AND METHOD OF PRODUCING SAME 4 Shets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 11, 1941 July 18, 1944. HONERKAMP 2,353,826

AIR OUTLET DEVICE AND METHOD OF PRODUCING SAME Filed Dec. 11-, 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 July 18, 1944. F. HONERKAMP AIR OUTLET DEVICE AND METHOD OF PRODUCING SAME Filed Dec. 11, 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented July 18, 1944 AIR OUTLET DEVICE AND METHOD OF PRODUCING SAIHE Friedrichflonerkamp, New York, N. Y., assignor to Anemostat Corporation of America, a corporation of Delaware Application December 11,1941, Serial No. 422,585

15 Claims.

This invention relates to the art of ventilation, and has particular reference to improvements in outlet devices for efiecting difi'used or substantially draftless delivery of fresh or treated air from air supply ducts into rooms or other enclosures for ventilating or air conditioning purposes.

Generally speaking, the object of the invention is to provide a simple, practical, highly efficient, low-cost device for'the purpose stated and to provide a simple, practical method for the rapid, low-cost production of the same.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, which will become more fully apparent as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in an air outlet embodying the novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts, and in the novel method steps of producing the same, as will be hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and defined in the ap-' pended claims.

In the accompanying drawings, whereinlike characters of reference denote corresponding parts in related views:

Figure 1 is atop plan view of an air outlet device according to one practical embodiment of the invention.

Figure 2 is a central, vertical section through the device.

,Figure 3 is a detail view illustrating a slight modification of the device.

Figure 4 is a plan view of a pre-formed blank from which the device may be produced in accordance with the method of the invention.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of the device.

Figure 6 is a top plan view of a pre-formed blank from which an alternative form of thedevice may be produced in accordance with the method of the invention.

Figure 7 is a central, vertical section through the pre-formed blank shown in Fig. 6.

Figure 8 is a View similar to Fig. 7 showing the form of the device after the preformed blank has been manipulated in accordance with the method of the invention.

Figure 9 is a top plan view of the completed alternative form of the invention as shown in Fig. 8; and

Figure 10 is a detail sectional view illustrating a modification of the Figs. 8 and 9 form of the invention.

Referring to the drawings in detail, first to Figs. 1, 2 and 5 wherein is illustrated an air outlet device constructed in accordance with one practical embodiment of the invention, it will be observed that said device comprises, generally speaking, a series of successively larger, horizontally disposed, concentric, air intercepting rings of flat sheet material, designated as [0, spaced successively outwardly and upwardly with respect to one another and connected together at their adjacent edges by annular rows of ver-' tically disposed webelements ll, whereby an annular row of air outlet openings I2 is provided between each adjacent two of said air intercepting rings. It will further be observed that the outermost ring III has extending upwardly therefrom, outwardly of the outermost row of air outlet openings I 2, a neck l3 for use in attaching the device to an air supply duct in air receiving relationship thereto. Accordingly, when the device is attached to an air supply duct, some of the air flowing from the duct to the device may flow directly downwardly through the air outlet openings H, the amount of air so flowing being dependent, of course, upon the areas of the openings "and preferably being only'a minor portion of the total .volume of the supplied air. On the other hand, the remainder of the supplied air, and preferably by far the major portion of the total volume thereof, will be intercepted and deflected laterally outward from the device in super-imposed layers by the rings l0. Thus, the supplied air will be delivered from the device in diflfused or substantially draftless form, particularly since the layers of air deflected laterally outward by the rings III will intercept, intermix with and produce diifusion of the air flowing downwardly through the openings l2 at the outer sides of said rings.

The rings ill, the web elements II and th neck I3 may all be separate from one another and may be connected together in any suitable manner, or some or all of them may be integral with one another. Moreover, the width of the rings l0 and the length and width of the openings I! may be varied, as may the width of the webs ll, while said webs may be of any desired length or height to space the rings [0 any desired distances apart vertically. Furthermore, the web elements ll may be disposed in any desired planes relative to the device, but preferably they are disposed substantially radially and, if desired, at inclinations to the'vertical, as shown in Fig. 3, so as to act upon the downwardly flow ing air impinging thereagainst to deflect it laterally and thus impart a whirling, diifusing motion to the air flowing laterally outward from the air intercepting rings l0.

While the device as generally described may be produced in any desired manner, its construction, exclusively of the neck l3, lends itself to practical, rapid, low-cost production from a single sheet or disk of any suitable'sheet material by a method involving only a minor number of simple manufacturing steps. In this connection and referring particularly to Fig. 4 of the drawings, A designates an originally plain, fiat disk of any suitable sheet material and a designate, generally, successively larger, annular, concentric bands of slitsformed in said disk in an desired manner and serving to divide said disk into the aforementioned air deflecting rings ill, of which there may be any desired number depending upon the number of bands of slits that are rovided in the disk.

Each band a of slits comprises an inner, annular row of slits-b and a concentric, annular, outer row of slits c, and in accordance with the invention the slits of each row of each band a are disposed in end to end spaced apart relationship. Moreover, the slits b and c of both rows of each band a are equal, or approximately equal, in length and the slits of the respective rows-of each band are disposed in pairs alined with each other radially with respect to the center d of the disk A around which the bands of slits a are concentrically disposed, thereby defining the aforementioned web elements I I. Furthermore, each band aof slits includes diagonal slits e connecting corresponding adjacent ends of the inner and outer slits b and c of adjacent pairsin the band so that there is provided between each two adjacent of the web elements ll a'pair of substantially V-shaped elements f and 9, one joined to one end of one of the web elements and to the ring l inwardly of the band a of slits, and the other joined to the adjacent end of the other of the web elements of the pair and to the ring Ill outwardly of the band a of slits. After providing the disk A with the bands a of slits as described, adjacent rings l0 of the disk are, in any suitable manner and by any desired means, rotated in their planes and in opposite directions relative to each other and, at the same time, are shifted axially relative to each, which results in the web elements Ii .being swung toward positions at right angles to the planes of the rings l0 and thereby providing the aforementioned annular rows of openings l2 between adjacent of the rings III while maintaining said rings connected together in parallel planes but in axially offset relationship to each other.

When adjacent rings I 0 are rotated and shifted axially relative to each other the webs ll naturally will tend to bend along lines extending between corresponding ends of the respective pairs of inner and outer slits b and c of the bands 11 as indicated by the dotted lines It in Fig. 4 and therefore any specialcontrol of the lines of bend of said webs may not be necessary. Preferably, however, the method of producing the device includes controlling bending of the webs ll along the lines It in any suitable manner and by any desired means to insure uniformity in the bending of all of the web elements of each row.

Obviously, the web elements I I may be bent to positions at right angles to the planes of the rings III, as shown in Figs. 2 and 5, or their bending may be stoppedbefore they reach positions at right angles to "said rings, in which event a they will be disposed at inclinations to the planes of said rings, as shown in Fig. 3, so as to have the air deflecting function heretofore mentioned.

Bending of the web elements, ll along the lines It results in corresponding ends of the web elementsof each row being connected to the adjacent edge of the ring ill at one side of the row by the V-shaped elements I and in the other ends of said web elements being connected to the adjacent edge of the ring In at the other side of the row by the V-shaped elements g, which V-shaped elements remain in the planes of the respective rings l0. Thus, sturdy connections are provided between each adjacent two of the rings ID by the intermediate row of web elements I I in conjunction with the related V- shaped elements I and g.

In shifting the rings l0 axially relative to one another the successively larger rings are, of course, displaced successivelyupwardly to provide for flow of air laterally outward from the device in superimposed layers.

Obviously, the radial spaced apart relationship of the rows of slits b and c of any given band a determines the width of the web elements II in that band. Likewise, the length of the slits b and c in any given band a obviously deterr'nines the length or height of the web elements II in that band. In this connection, while the drawingsillustrate all of the web elements I l as being of equal width and length or height, it is apparent that the web elements of any given row may be of different width, or different length or height, or both different width and diflerent length or height, from the web elements in any other row, to provide openings or passageways l2 of any desired width and length between any two adjacent rings l0 regardless of the width and length of the openings or passageways between any other two adjacent of said rings, and also to space any two adjacent of said rings'any desired distance apart axially regardless of the axial spacing of any other adjacent two of said rings. Moreover, it is apparent that the diagonal slits e of any given band may be reversed with respect to the diagonal slits e in any other band, as this simply will result in a reversal of the V- shaped elements and g. Of course, in any given row it is essential that all of the web elements ll be of equal width and equal length or height.

Obviously, instead of the device comprising more than two rings l0, it may comprise only two rings and a single intervening row of web elements II and passageways l2. Moreover, instead of the device being provided with a neck such as the neck I3 for attaching it to an air supply duct, it obviously may be fastened directly to an air supply duct by means of screws, bolts or the like or in 'any other desired manner. Furthermore, whether the device is fastened to an air supply duct by means of a neck such as the neck l3, or in any other suitable manner, one or more of therings l0 may be disposed laterally outward with respect to the air outlet opening in the duct and in spaced relationship to the duct, and the neck or other attaching means may be perforate, so that air "flowing from the duct through the device will produce a suction effect and an aspirating or inward flow of room or enclosure air into the device through the space, or spaces, above the ring, or rings, l0 which is, or are, disposed laterally outward with respect to the air outlet opening in the duct. For example, if a neck such as the neck I3 is employed for attaching the device to an air supply duct, the neck may be fastened to any one of the rings in inwardly of the outermost ring and adjacent to its lower end may be provided with openings through which air may flow into the device from the space, or spaces, above the ring, or rings, which are disposed outwardly thereof. In fact, even if the neck is fastened to the outermost ring III, the latter ring may be-spaced-from the duct and the neck l3 may have openings l3 therein for flow of air into the device from the space above the said outermost ring l0. Thus, there may be obtained a very desirable mixing within the device and in the immediate vicinity thereof, of the room or enclosure air with the supplied air.

Regarding the neck I3, if same is employed it may be formed in any suitable manner and may be attached to any one of the rings H) in any suitable manner. For example, said neck may include a bottom horizontal flange H which may seat upon one or another of the rings 10 and which may be secured thereto by small bolts I5.

Referring now to the alternative form of the device illustrated in Figs. 8 and 9 of the drawings, the construction is the same as in the first described form of the device, except that the rings, designated as l, are of downwardly and outwardly flaring form and are disposed in a common horizontal plane, thereby defining downwardly and outwardly flaring passageways therebetween.

In constructing the Figs. 8 and 9 form of the device in accordance with the method of the invention there first is provided in any suitable manner a basic or pre-formed plate structure A, as shown in Figs. 6 and '7, comprising a series of successively larger frustro-conical ring elements ll! of any suitable sheet material, arranged concentrically and successively downwardly with respect to one another, with the lower and the upper edges of each two adjacent ring elements disposed in approximately a common plane and connected together by a flat ring element l6. Each flat ring element I6 then is provided in any suitable manner with an annular band of slits a similar to the annular bands of slits a provided in the basic plate structure or disk A of the first described form of the invention to define in each of said ring elements [6 an annular row of web elements H. The frustro-conical ring elements I0 then are rotated and shifted axially relative to each other to swing the web elements ll toward vertical positions to provide an annular series of openings l2 in each of said fiat ring elements l6 and also to cause each two adjacent of the frusto-conical ring elements Ill to be connected together at their adjacent edges by the intermediate row of web elements II.

The ring elements Ill may be of equal heights and the web elements H of each of the bands a may be of equal lengths or heights and of the same length or height as the ring elements l0, and in that event rotation and axial shifting of adjacent of the frustro-conical ring elements Ill relative to each other until all of said web elements reach positions at right angles to the planes of said frustro-conical ring elements will result in all of said frustro-conical ring elements being tro-conical ring elements Ill until the web elements II are disposed at right angles to the planes of said frustro-iconical ring elements I0 will result in the ring elements being disposed either in the same plane or in different planes, depending upon the relative heights of the ring elements and the web elements. In this connection, Fig. 10 of the drawings illustrates by way of example that the web elements ll of the successively larger rows are successively shorter in length or height and that the successively larger frustro-conical ring elements I 0 are of equal heights and are disposed in successively higher planes. Of course, regardless of the length or height of the web elements ll' of the different rows, those in any one or more rows may be bent only to inclined positions relative to the planes of the i'rustro-conical ring elements l0 so as to act to deflect air in the manner set forth in connection with the inclined web elements H illustrated in Fig. 3 of the drawings.

The Figs. 8 to 10 form of the invention preferably includes a suitable neck or its equivalent, designated as 13 for connecting the device to an air supply duct in air receiving relationship thereto, but as in the case of the Figs. 1 t 5 form of the invention, the device may be secured directly to an air supply duct in any suitable manner. Moreover, the widths of the flat rings I6 may be varied and the slits in said rings may be radially spaced apart any desired distances and may be of any desired lengths to provide web elements II of any desired widths and heights and openings l2 of any desired widths and lengths. Furthermore, the Figs. 8 to 10 form of the device may comprise only two rings ID and a single intervening row of web elements ll and openings l2 and, as in the case of the Figs. 1 to 5 form of the invention, the device may be mounted with one or more of its ring elements I0 disposed laterally outward of the air outlet opening in the duct for air aspiration purposes as described in connection with the Figs. 1 to 5 form of the invention.

Obviously, according to the Figs. 8 to 10 forms of the invention, air flowing downwardly into the device is divided into separate streams and is deflected laterally outward by the frustro-conical ring elements l0, whereby it is elfectively diffused.

While it may be possible to press or otherwise form from a single sheet of material the basic plate structure shown in Figs. 6 and 7 of the drawings, it is more practical to form the ring disposed in a common horizontal plane, as shown in Fig. 8. On the other hand, regardless of the length or height of the web elements ll, of the difierent rows, the ring elements Ill may be of unequal heights. Likewise, regardless of the length or height of the ring elements I I! the web elements I I a of the difierent rows may be of unequal lengths or heights. In any such event rotation and axial shifting of adjacent of the fruselements Ill and I 6 separate from each other 'and'to unite them.as by soldering, welding or in any other suitable manner.

According to the Figs. 1 to 5 form of the invention the smaller or innermost air intercepting member ID does not have any opening therein and therefore is in the form of a disk rather than in the form of a ring. Likewise, the smaller or innermost air intercepting members "I of the Figs. 6 to 9 form of the invention is closed against passage of air therethrough and therefore is not truly a ring. However, for purposes of this specification and the appended claims, said innermost members I0, lll are to be regarded as rings whether they are completely closed, as shown, against'the passage of air therethrough, or whether they are centrally or otherwise open for passage of air therethrough. In other words, when the specification or the claims refers to the rings ill or I 0*, the innermost member I 0 or Ill is intended to be included whether it is truly ajrlng or whether it is completely closed against passage of air therethrough, or whether it is provided with an opening or openings other than a central opening for vice which comprises providing in a plate structure at successively greater distances from the center thereof concentric bands of slits each i comprising an inner and an outer row of slits with the slits in each row disposed in end to end spaced apart relationship and the slits of the respective rows of each band disposed in pairs to define web elements therebetween, further providing in said platestructure diagonal slits connecting corresponding adjacent ends of inner and outer slits of adjacent pairs in each band to provide between each two adjacent web-elements a pair of substantially V-shaped elements one joined to one end of one of the web elements and to the portion of the plate structure inwardly of the band of slits and the other joined to the adjacent end of the other of the web elements and to the portion of the plate structure outwardly of the band of slits, and rotating and shifting axially relative to eachother the portions of the plate structure to each side of each of the bands of slits while controlling bending of said web elements along lines extending between corrresponding ends of the pairs of slits to cause said web elements to be swung to positions at angles to the planes of the plate structure between the bands of slits, whereby the adjacent edges of the portions of the plate structure are connected together at their edges by said web elements and said V-shaped elements, and whereby annular rows of air outlet openings are provided in said plate structure.

2. The method of producing an air outlet device from a single piece of flat sheet material which comprises providing in the sheet successively larger concentric bands of slits dividing the sheet into successively larger concentric air intercepting ring-like portions and with each band of slits comprising an inner and an outer row of slits with the slits in each row disposed in end to end spaced apart relationship and the slits of the respective rows of each band disposed in pairs to define web elements therebetween, further providing in the sheet diagonal slits connecting corresponding adjacent ends of inner and outer slits of adjacent pairs in each band to provide'between each two adjacent web elements a pair of substantially V"-shaped elements one joined to one end of one of the web elements and to the ring-like portion of the sheet inwardly of the band of slits and the other joined to the adjacent end of the other of the web elements and to the ring-like portion of the sheet outwardly of the band of slits, and rotating and shifting axially relative to each other the ring-like portions of the sheet to each side of each band of said slits while controlling bending of said web elements along lines extending between corresponding ends of the pairs of slits to cause the web elements to be swung to positions at angles to the planes of the ring-like portions oi. the sheet, whereby the ring-like portions are caused to be connected together at their adjacent edges by said web elements and said V-shaped elements, and whereby annular.

rows of air outlet openings are provided in the tically disposed web elements between the said edges of said air intercepting and deflecting elements, fiat substantially horizontally disposed web elements at the lower ends of said substantially vertically disposed web elements connecting the lower ends of said substantially vertically disposed web elements to the outer edge of said first air intercepting and deflecting element, and other flat substantially horizontally disposed web elements at the upper ends of said substantially vertically disposed web elements connecting the upper ends of said substantially vertically disposed .web elements to the inner edge of said second air intercepting and deflecting element.

4. An air outlet device as set forth in claim 3 in which the web element at one end of each substantially vertically disposed web element extends from the latter web element in a direction opposite to the web element at the other end thereof.

5. An air outlet device as set forth in claim 3 in which the air intercepting and deflecting elements are of flat plate form.

6. An air outlet device as set forth in' claim 3 in which the air intercepting and deflecting elements are inclined downwardly and outwardly.

7. An air outlet device as set forth in claim 3 in which the air intercepting and deflecting elements are inclined downwardly and outwardly and are disposed in a common horizontal plane.

8. An air outlet device comprising a first horizontally disposed annular air intercepting and deflecting element, a second horizontally disposed air intercepting and deflecting element of ringlike form disposed outwardly with respect to said first air intercepting and deflecting element and having its inner edge spaced outwardly from and above the outer edge of said first air intercepting and deflecting element, an annular row of annularly spaced apart straight substantially vertically and substantially radially disposed web elements between said edges of said air intercepting and deflecting elements, flat substantially horizontally disposed web elements at the'lower ends of said substantially vertically disposed web elements in the plane of the outer edge of said first air intercepting and deflecting element connecting the lower ends of said substantially vertically disposed web elements to the said outer edge of said first air'intercepting and deflecting element, and

other flat substantially horizontally disposed web elements at the upper ends of said substantially vertically disposed web elements in the'plane of the inner edge of said second air intercepting and deflecting element connecting the upper ends of said substantially vertically disposed web elements to the said inner edge of said second air intercepting and deflecting element.

9. An air outlet device as set forth in claim 8 in which the web element at one end of each substantially vertically disposed web element extends from the latter web element in a direction opposite to the web element at the other end thereof and in which adjacent edges of adjacent upper and lower web elements are spaced apart annularly of the device.

10. An air outlet device as set forth in claim 8 in which the air intercepting and deflecting elements are of flat plate form.

11. An air outlet device as set forth in claim 8 in which the air intercepting and deflecting elements are of frustro-conical form.

12. An air outlet device as set forth in claim 8 in which the air intercepting and deflecting elements are of frustro-com'cal form and disposed in a common horizontal plane.

13. The method of producing an air outlet device which comprises providing a plate structureincluding a first frustro-conical portion, a second larger irustro-conical portion and a fiat ring-like portion connecting the larger end of the first frustro-conical portion with the smaller end of the second irustro-conical portion, providing in said flat ring-like portion an annular band of slits comprising an inner and an outer row of slits with the slits in each row disposed in end to end spaced apart relationship and the slits of the respective rows disposed in pairs to define web elements therebetween, further providing in said ring-like portion diagonal slits connecting adjacent ends of inner and outer slits of adjacent pairs to provide between each two adjacent web elements V- shaped elements one joined to one end of one of the web elements and to the portion of the plate structure inwardly of the band of slits and the other joined to the adjacent end of the other web element and to the portion of the plate structure outwardly of the band of slits, and rotating said frustro-conical portions with respect to one another and shifting them toward one another while limiting bending of said web elements to a pair of straight parallel lines extending between the ends of the pairs of slits to cause said web elements to be swung toward positions at right angles to the planes of said frustro-conical portions and by their swinging to provide an annular row or air outlet openings between said frustro-conical portions.

14. An air outlet device comprising a horizontally disposed air intercepting and deflecting element, a second element disposed horizontally and outwardly with respect to said air intercepting and deflecting element and having its inner edge spaced outwardly from and above the outer edge of said air intercepting and deflecting element, substantially straight substantially vertically disposed web elements between the said edges of said elements, flat substantially horizontally disposed web elements at the lower ends of said substantially vertically disposed web elements connecting the lower ends of said substantially vertically disposed web elements to the outer edge of said air intercepting and deflecting element, and other flat substantially horizontally disposed web elements at the upper ends of said substantially vertically disposed web elements connecting the upper ends of said substantially vertically disposed web elements to the inner edge of said second element.

15. An air outlet device comprising a horizontally disposed'annular air intercepting and deflecting element, a second element of ring-like form disposed horizontally and outwardly with respect to said air intercepting and deflecting element and having its inner edge spaced outwardly from and above the outer edge of said air intercepting and deflecting element, an annularrow of annularly spaced apart straight substantially vertically and substantially radially disposed web elements between said edges of said elements, flat substantially horizontally disposedweb elements at the lower ends of said substantially vertically disposed web elements in the plane of the outer edge of said air intercepting and deflecting element connecting the low r ends of said substantially vertically disposed web elements to the said outer edge of said air intercepting and'deflecting element, and other flat substantially horizontally disposed web elements at the upper ends of said substantially vertically disposed web elements in the plane 01' the inner edge of said second element connecting the upper ends of said substantially vertically disposed web elements to the said-inner edge or said second element.

FRIEDRICH HONERKAMP. 

